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The Laryngoscope Jun 2020The inner ear is responsible for hearing and balance and consists of a membranous labyrinth within a bony labyrinth. The balance structure is divided into the otolith...
The inner ear is responsible for hearing and balance and consists of a membranous labyrinth within a bony labyrinth. The balance structure is divided into the otolith organ that recognizes linear acceleration and the semicircular canal that is responsible for rotational movement. The cochlea is the hearing organ. The external and middle ear are covered with skin and mucosa, respectively, and the space is filled with air, whereas the inner ear is composed of endolymph and perilymph. The inner ear is a fluid-filled sensory organ composed of hair cells with cilia on the upper part of the cells that convert changes in sound energy and balance into electric energy through the hair cells to transmit signals to the auditory nerve through synapses. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of transmembrane proteins present in all species that can be roughly divided into three subfamilies according to structure and function: 1) classical AQP, 2) aquaglyceroporin, and 3) superaquaporin. Currently, the subfamily of mammalian species is known to include 13 AQP members (AQP0-AQP12). AQPs have a variety of functions depending on their structure and are related to inner ear diseases such as Meniere's disease, sensorineural hearing loss, and presbycusis. Additional studies on the relationship between the inner ear and AQPs may be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear disease. Laryngoscope, 130:1532-1539, 2020.
Topics: Animals; Aquaporins; Humans; Labyrinth Diseases
PubMed: 31593306
DOI: 10.1002/lary.28334 -
Protein and Peptide Letters 2017Backgroud: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder, which is characterized by severe attacks of optic neuritis and myelitis. Antibodies (Ab) to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
UNLABELLED
Backgroud: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder, which is characterized by severe attacks of optic neuritis and myelitis. Antibodies (Ab) to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) (or NMO-IgG) as a serological biomarker of NMO have been widespread used. Nevertheless, some NMO patients remain seronegative for AQP4-Ab and/or have no detected optic nerve involvement. In addition, no consensus exists on the association between AQP4-Ab serostatus and visual outcome in NMO. To drive a more precise estimate of this postulated relationship, a metaanalysis was performed based on existing relevant studies.
METHODS
Studies were searched by PubMed and MEDLINE up to March 2016. Study quality was assessed, and meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.1. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were calculated and funnel plot was applied to assess the potential publication bias.
RESULTS
In a total of 1288 relevant studies, 18 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria and were included in the systemic review. Only 9 studies appeared eligible for the meta-analysis, together including 624 AQP4-Ab-positive and 119 AQP4-Ab-negative NMO patients. The results revealed associations between AQP4-Ab seropositivity and visual impairment in NMO (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.09, 9.19; P = 0.03). The results of subgroup analyses based on different methods of AQP-4 detection also showed significantly differences between AQP4-Ab seropositivity and visual impairment in NMO, especially in CBA subgroup.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis indicates that AQP4-Ab serostatus has the positive with poor visual outcome in NMO.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aquaporin 4; Autoantibodies; Biomarkers; Cohort Studies; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Middle Aged; Neuromyelitis Optica; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 28071581
DOI: 10.2174/0929866524666170110150436 -
International Urology and Nephrology Nov 2016Lithium is an essential treatment in bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression; however, its use has been limited by concerns regarding its renal adverse... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Lithium is an essential treatment in bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression; however, its use has been limited by concerns regarding its renal adverse effects. An improved understanding of potential molecular mechanisms can help develop prevention and treatment strategies for lithium-associated renal disease.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, and PsychINFO including English-language original research articles published prior to November 2015 that specifically investigated lithium's effects on nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), using molecular markers.
RESULTS
From a total of 3510 records, 71 pre-clinical studies and two relevant clinical studies were identified. Molecular alterations were reported in calcium signaling, inositol monophosphate, extracellular-regulated, prostaglandin, sodium/solute transport, G-protein-coupled receptors, nitric oxide, vasopressin/aquaporin, and inflammation-related pathways in lithium-associated renal disease. The majority of studies found that these mechanisms were implicated in NDI, while few studies had examined CKD.
DISCUSSION
Future studies will have to focus on (1) validating the present findings in human subjects and (2) examining CKD, which is the most clinically relevant lithium-associated renal effect. This will improve our understanding of lithium's biological effects, as well as inform a personalized medicine approach, which could lead to safer lithium prescribing and less renal adverse events.
Topics: Animals; Aquaporins; Calcium; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic; Humans; Lithium; Prostaglandins; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Signal Transduction; Sodium; Symporters; Vasopressins
PubMed: 27357223
DOI: 10.1007/s11255-016-1352-6 -
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Jul 2015Antibodies against water channel protein aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in astrocytes play a role in the etiology and physiopathology of neuromyelitis optica (NMO); detection of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Antibodies against water channel protein aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in astrocytes play a role in the etiology and physiopathology of neuromyelitis optica (NMO); detection of this immunoglobulin in serum is highly suggestive of this diagnosis. There are several immunoassays to detect the antibody with different sensitivities and specificities. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the overall diagnostic accuracy from these tests.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review in five different electronic databases: Pubmed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effect (DARE) and Lilacs. We included both case control and consecutive enrollment studies that evaluated the performance of the immunoassays in patients with suspected NMO in comparison with the 2006 Wingerchuk diagnostic criteria. Articles were assessed by two different reviewers, who also extracted data.
RESULTS
30 studies for three different immunoassays were included in the meta-analysis. To obtain a summary estimate for the sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence interval a bivariate random effect model was used. The approximated sensitivity for the cell based assay (CBA), the tissue-based assay (TBA) and the ELISA test were 0.76(95% CI 0.67-0.82), 0.59(95% CI 0.50-0.67), and 0.65(95% CI 0.53-0.75) respectively. The mean specificity of the CBA was 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-0.99), TBA 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99) and ELISA 0.97(95% CI 0.96-0.99).
CONCLUSIONS
AQP4 detection in serum with immunoassay is a great tool for the diagnosis of patients with NMO, due to the high specificity, allowing the clinician to differentiate this disease from other neurological conditions that resemble NMO.
Topics: Aquaporin 4; Autoantibodies; Biomarkers; Humans; Immunoassay; Neuromyelitis Optica; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 26195055
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2015.06.003 -
Journal of Neurology Sep 2014Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most important manifestations of SLE, and includes a variety of clinical manifestations, classified... (Review)
Review
Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most important manifestations of SLE, and includes a variety of clinical manifestations, classified by the American College of Rheumatology in 19 different neuropsychiatric syndromes. To date, more than 116 antibodies have been reported in SLE and at least 20 of them, including 11 brain-specific and 9 systemic antibodies, have been controversially associated with NPSLE. To systematically review the available evidence, to define the association between the above antibodies and NPSLE as a whole and with the 19 neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with SLE, by strictly applying the American College Rheumatology case definitions. Medline reports published between 1999 and 2013 investigating the association between antibodies and NPSLE were included. Whenever possible, associations between antibodies and both NPSLE as a whole and with the 19 syndromes were analysed. This systematic review is based on available data from more than 8,000 patients and controls from 42 studies analysing antibodies and NPSLE. Nineteen studies analysed the role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), 11 focused on anti-ribosomal-P protein antibodies and 5 on anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor antibodies. Two studies analysed, respectively, antibodies to aquaporin-4 and VH4-34 encoded antibodies. Given the multitude of clinical manifestations related to NPSLE, a single biomarker failed to be reliably associated with all neuropsychiatric events. Our findings provide evidence that aPL, mainly the lupus anticoagulant, and anti-ribosomal P antibodies are significantly associated with specific manifestations of neuropsychiatric disease attributed to SLE, namely, cerebrovascular events and psychosis, respectively.
Topics: Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Aquaporin 4; Autoantibodies; Biomarkers; Humans; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System; Mental Disorders; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Ribosomal Proteins
PubMed: 24952022
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-014-7406-8